Has anyone ever autopsied a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL) and derived
the schematic? I have a failed GE 13 watt - 180 ma CFL in front of me
that has about 25 components including what appears to be a full-wave
bridge rectifier, and capacitor (5 components), a choke, a
transformer, two three-terminal devices that I assume must be
transistors driving the transformer, and several resistors and
capacitors. There also appears to be a mini-fuse in the hot lead
coming from the base of the lamp. I know that is good, also the
bridge rectifier is working. No signs of any oscillation from the
rest of the circuit. No markings whatsoever on either of the
transistors. A schematic, even a generic, would make looking at this
thing reasonable when I get some spare time, otherwise it is into the
garbage in a plastic bag to contain any mercury in the lamp.

Bob Hofmann

On Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:26:03 -0700 (PDT), "hr(bob) "
put finger to keyboard and composed:

Has anyone ever autopsied a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL) and derived
the schematic? I have a failed GE 13 watt - 180 ma CFL in front of me
that has about 25 components including what appears to be a full-wave
bridge rectifier, and capacitor (5 components), a choke, a
transformer, two three-terminal devices that I assume must be
transistors driving the transformer, and several resistors and
capacitors. There also appears to be a mini-fuse in the hot lead
coming from the base of the lamp. I know that is good, also the
bridge rectifier is working. No signs of any oscillation from the
rest of the circuit. No markings whatsoever on either of the
transistors. A schematic, even a generic, would make looking at this
thing reasonable when I get some spare time, otherwise it is into the
garbage in a plastic bag to contain any mercury in the lamp.

Bob Hofmann

This page has several reverse engineered CFL circuits:
http://www.pavouk.org/hw/lamp/en_index.html

- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

On Oct 17, 12:06*am, Franc Zabkar wrote:
On Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:26:03 -0700 (PDT), "hr(bob) "
put finger to keyboard and composed:

Has anyone ever autopsied a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL) and derived
the schematic? *I have a failed GE 13 watt - 180 ma CFL in front of me
that has about 25 components including what appears to be a full-wave
bridge rectifier, and capacitor (5 components), a choke, a
transformer, two three-terminal devices that I assume must be
transistors driving the transformer, and *several resistors and
capacitors. There also appears to be a mini-fuse in the hot lead
coming from the base of the lamp. *I know that is good, also the
bridge rectifier is working. *No signs of any oscillation from the
rest of the circuit. *No markings whatsoever on either of the
transistors. *A schematic, even a generic, would make looking at this
thing reasonable when I get some spare time, otherwise it is into the
garbage in a plastic bag to contain any mercury in the lamp.

Bob Hofmann

This page has several reverse engineered CFL circuits:
*http://www.pavouk.org/hw/lamp/en_index.html

- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

Meat Plow and Franc:

Thanks much, that is just what I was looking for.

Bob Hofmann